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STORY-BOOK TALES 


By 

MINA PEARL ASHTON 

ft* 

Primary Teacher, Defiance, Ohio 


WITH INTRODUCTION BY 

E. W. HOWEY 

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, DEFIANCE, OHIO 



ILLUSTRATED BY 

LUDWIG and REGINA 


BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 

CHICAGO 



ABOUT THE BOOK 


Three things are necessary in the writing of a primary reader: first, that 
the material used be of vital interest to the children; second, that it be written 
in language that the child can understand; third, that it shall have educational 
value. With these requirements in mind, the author of Story-Book Tales 
for several years has been making selections from the best of child literature 
in preparation for this book. Every story in the list has a fascination for 
the children, and the most interesting fables and fairy tales are to be found 
in this volume. 

Unlike many readers written for children, this book has been prepared by 
a teacher and every lesson has been used in actual recitation work many 
times. Special care has been taken to eliminate words foreign to the child, 
thus keeping the vocabulary well within the range of children of the first 
grade. All stories used are rich in those qualities which stimulate the imagina¬ 
tion of the child and establish ideas which children can appreciate. Special 
attention has also been given to the inclusion of material which can easily 
be retold and dramatized by the children. 

E. W. Howey, 

Superintendent of Schools, 

Defiance, Ohio 



COPYRIGHT 1931, BY BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 

COPYRIGHT 1926, BY BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 
All Rights Reserved 



PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


m -7 i 53l 

©CIA 44673 



CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The Dandelion .... 


7 

See-Saw. 

Mother Goose Rhyme 

13 

The Old Woman and the Fox 

Norse Folk Tale 

14 

The Hares and the Frogs 

Based on Fable from Aesop 

22 

Peek-a-Boo. 


26 

King’s Horses . 

Mother Goose Rhyme 

27 

The Three Wishes 

. English Folk Tale 

28 

Willy Boy. 


32 

Little Girl. 

Mother Goose Rhyme 

33 

The Lion and the Mouse 

Based on Fable from Aesop 

34 

Lady Moon. 

Anonymous 

40 

The Camel and the Pig . 

Indian Fable 

41 

Mary Had a Pretty Bird 

Mother Goose Rhyme 

48 

Little White Lily 

. George Macdonald 

49 

I Saw A Ship A-Sailing . 

Mother Goose Rhyme 

50 

The Little Red Hen . 

. English Folk Tale 

52 

The Bear and the Fox . 

Norse Folk Tale 

61 

Little Cock Sparrow 

Mother Goose Rhyme 

66 

Come Away. 

Mother Goose Rhyme 

68 


3 










PAGE 

The Farmer and the Stork 

Based, on Fable from Aesop 70 

The Unhappy Pine Tree 

. German Folk Tale 75 

The Bye-Low Song . 

Anonymous 82 

The Whale and the Elephant 

Old Legend 84 

Evergreen Trees .... 

. . . Old Tale 94 

Babes in the Wood . 

Mother Goose Rhyme 102 

Little Sunshine .... 

. Russian Folk Tale 104 

Sleep, Baby, Sleep 

German Lullaby 112 

Topknot . 

. Swedish Folk Tale 113 

Wee Robin. 


Little Tee Wee 

Mother Goose Rhyme 128 


4 








In the heart of a story book, my dears, 

There are treasures of joy untold; 

There are silver tears to enrich your heart, 
And gay, brave laughs of gold. 

There are jewels of beautiful, kindly thoughts, 
If you knew but where to look; 

For they’re hidden away without lock or key, 
In the heart of a story book. 

—Margaret Ann Spanton 


5 



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The Dandelion 


A long, long time ago 
the Angel of the Flowers 
came down to earth. 

She was looking 

for the best flower in the world. 
She went into the meadow. 
She went into the woods. 

She went into the garden. 

At last she came 
to a red tulip. 

“Bright tulip,” 

asked the Angel of the Flowers, 
“where do you wish to live?” 


“I want to live 
on the castle lawn,” 
said the tulip. 

“I want the princess to see me.” 

The Angel of the Flowers 
shook her head sadly. 

And she went away. 

She went on and on 
until she came to a violet. 

“Sweet violet,” 

asked the Angel of the Flowers, 
“where do you wish to live?” 

“I want to live in the woods,” 
said the violet. 

“I want to be 
in the cool shade. 




I want to be by the brook. 

I do not want the sun 
to fade my blossoms.” 

The Angel of the Flowers 
shook her head sadly. 

And she went away. 

She went on and on 
until she came 
to a bright yellow dandelion. 

“Yellow dandelion,” 
asked the Angel of the Flowers, 
“where do you wish to live?” 

“I want to live in the meadow,” 
said the dandelion. 

“I want to live by the roadside. 


n 


I want to be 
where the children are.” 

“Oh dandelion!” 
said the Angel of the Flowers, 

“you are the best flower 
in the world. 

You shall live in the meadow. 

You shall live by the brook. 

You shall live by the roadside. 

You shall live everywhere. 

You will make the children 
happy.” 

That is why the dandelion 
comes so early in the spring. 

And that is why 
it stays so late in the fall. 


12 



See-Saw 

See-saw, up and down 
Which is the way 
To London Town? 

See-saw, up and down, 
This is the way 
To London Town. 

One foot up, 

The other foot down, 
This is the way 
To London Town. 


13 



The Old Woman and the Fox 


Once upon a time 
an old woman had a flock 
of sheep and goats. 

She was very old. 

She could not work any more. 

She wanted some one 
to take care of her flock. 

So she went out 
to find a boy. 

She walked on and on 
until she met Mr. Bear. 

Mr. Bear said, 

“Good morning, old woman. 

Where are you going to-day?” 


14 


The old woman said, 

“I am looking for some one 
to tend my flock.” 

“Will I do?” asked Mr. Bear. 

“Let me hear you call,” 
said the old woman. 

“Gr-r, gr-r,” called Mr. Bear. 
“No, no,” said the old woman. 
“You call too loud. 

My flock 

would run away and hide. 

No, no, you will not do.” 

The old woman walked on 
until she met Mr. Wolf. 


15 




Something 


Mr. Wolf said, 

“Good morning, old woman. 
Where are you going to-day ?’ 7 

The old woman said, 

“I am looking for some one 
to tend my flock.” 

“Will I do?” asked Mr. Wolf. 

“Let me hear you call,” 
said the old woman. 

“Ho-y, ho-y,” called Mr. Wolf. 

“No, no,” said the old woman. 
“You call too loud. 

My flock 

would run away and hide. 

No, no, you will not do.” 


17 


The old woman walked on 
until she met Mr. Fox. 

Mr. Fox said, 

“Good morning, old woman. 
Where are you going to-day?” 

The old woman said, 

“I am looking for some one 
to tend my flock.” 

“Will I do?” asked Mr. Fox. 

“Let me hear you call,” 
said the old woman. 

“Del dal, del dal,” 

called Mr. Fox softly. 

“Del dal, del dal.” 

18 


“Yes, yes, you will do, Mr. Fox,” 
said the old woman. 

“I will take you to my flock.” 

One day 

Mr. Fox would eat a sheep. 

The next day 
he would eat a goat. 

At last the flock became very small. 

One day the old woman said, 
“Mr. Fox, how is my flock?” 

Mr. Fox hung his head. 

He did not know what to say. 

Then he said, 

“A wolf came out of the woods 
and killed some of your flock.” 


19 


The old woman was very sorry 
to lose her sheep and goats. 

She thought and thought. 

The old woman said, 

“Mr. Fox must be sorry too.” 

The next day the old woman said, 
“I will go to the field 
to see my flock. 

I will carry 

Mr. Fox a drink of cream.” 

The old woman went 
to the field. 

She saw Mr. Fox eating a sheep. 
How frightened she was! 

Mr. Fox heard her coming. 

He started to run away. 

20 



But the old woman 
threw the pitcher of cream 
at Mr. Fox. 

It hit the end 
of Mr. Fox’s tail. 

And that is why 
the end of the fox’s tail is white. 


21 




The Hares and the Frogs 

Once upon a time 
many rabbits lived in a forest. 

There were hundreds of big animals 
living in the forest too. 

The rabbits were afraid 
of these big animals. 

They hid in the tall grass. 

The wind blew 
through the trees. 

The wind blew 
through the tall grass. 

This frightened the rabbits. 

One rabbit said, 

“Let us run away.” 

22 



Another rabbit said, 
“Let us run away.” 

So they all ran away. 


They ran and they ran 
until they came to a brook. 

Many frogs sat 
on the bank of the brook. 

They heard the rabbits running. 


23 









Something to Cut and Paste 


24 


This frightened the frogs. 

So they jumped 
far out into the brook. 

The rabbits saw the frogs jump 
into the brook. 

An old rabbit said, 

“Stop running! 

Stop running! 

Let us stop our running. 

See, the frogs are afraid of us. 
How frightened they are! 

We do not need to run away 
from animals bigger than we are. 
Let us go home.” 

So they stopped running 
and went home. 


25 



Peek-a-boo! 

I see you, 

Hiding behind the chair. 
Peek-a-boo! 

I see you, 

I see you hiding there! 

26 







King’s Horses 

King’s horses, king’s horses, 
What time of day? 

One o’clock, two o’clock, 

Off and away. 

One o’clock, two o’clock, 
What time of day? 

Come again, go again, 

Off and away. 

27 









The Three Wishes 


A long time ago 
Mr. and Mrs. Woodman lived 
in a big forest. 

Every day 

Mr. Woodman cut down trees. 
One day 

Mr. Woodman took his ax 
and went out to work. 

He went up 

to a beautiful, big oak tree. 

He was going to cut it down. 
A fairy came 
and stood by the tree. 

“Oh, Mr. Woodman,” 

said the fairy. 

28 


“Do not cut down 
this beautiful tree. 

Please let it grow. 

I will grant your next three wishes.” 
How surprised Mr. Woodman was 

Then he said, 

“I will do as you say.” 

So he picked up his ax 
and went home. 

He thought and thought 
about the fairy. 

At last he reached the cottage. 
He was very hungry. 

There was no supper for him. 

So he said, “I wish 
I had some sausage for supper.” 

29 



There was the sausage before him. 
“What is this?” 
asked Mrs. Woodman. 

Then Mr. Woodman told her 
all about the fairy. 

“You are silly,” 
said Mrs. Woodman. 


30 







“I wish this sausage was 
at the end of your nose.” 

And there it was, 
on the end of Mr. Woodman’s nose 

How surprised they were! 

He pulled and pulled 
and tried to get it off. 

She pulled and pulled 
and tried to get it off. 

Then they both pulled. 

But it would not come off. 

Then Mr. Woodman said, 

“I have one more wish. 

I wish this sausage 
would come off my nose.” 

And it did. 


31 


Willy Boy 

“Willy boy, Willy boy, 
Where are you going? 

I will go with you, 

If that I may.” 

“I’m going to the meadow 
To see them a-mowing; 
I’m going to help them 
To make the hay.” 

32 












Little Girl 


“Little girl, little girl, 
Where have you been?” 

“Gathering roses 
To give to the queen.” 

“Little girl, little girl, 
What gave she you?” 

“She gave me a diamond 
As big as my shoe.” 

33 







The Lion and the Mouse 


One day Mr. Lion was asleep 
in the woods. 

Gray Mouse was playing 
in the woods. 

He ran this way and that way. 
All at once 

he ran right over Mr. Lion’s nose. 
This woke Mr. Lion. 

He was very angry. 

Mr. Lion said, 

“Well, it is Gray Mouse. 

How dare you run 
over my nose and waken me!” 

Mr. Lion put his big paw 
right on Gray Mouse. 


He held him fast. 

How frightened the mouse was 

Gray Mouse said, 

“Oh please, Mr. Lion, let me go 
I was just playing. 

If you will let me go, 

I will be your friend. 

I will help you some time.” 

How Mr. Lion laughed! 

Could a little gray mouse 
help a big, strong lion? 

Mr. Lion said, 

“I will let you go this time. 

But stay out of my way.” 
Then he lifted his big paw. 


35 



36 


r 


Gray Mouse said, 

“Thank you, thank you. 

Thank you, kind Mr. Lion.” 

And he ran away. 

One day Mr. Lion was walking 
in the woods. 

He walked this way and that way. 
He walked 

right into a big, strong net. 

He pulled and pulled. 

But he could not get away. 

It held him fast. 

Mr. Lion roared. 

He roared and roared. 

Gray Mouse said, 

“I hear Mr. Lion. 


37 



I will help him.” 

How Gray Mouse ran! 

•• 

He ran to Mr. Lion 
as fast as he could run. 

Gray Mouse said, 
“Wait, Mr. Lion. 


38 












I will help you. 

I will gnaw the rope.” 

Then Gray Mouse went to work 
with his sharp teeth. 

He gnawed and gnawed 
the rope. 

Mr. Lion stretched. 

He stretched and stretched. 
Snap! Snap! 

The rope broke. 

And Mr. Lion was free. 

Mr. Lion said, 

“Thank you, kind Gray Mouse. 
You are very little. 

But you are a good friend.” 

Then Gray Mouse ran home. 

39 



Lady Moon 

Lady moon, lady moon, 
Sailing so high! 

Drop down to baby 
From out the blue sky. 
Babykin, babykin, 

Down far below 
I hear thee calling 
But I cannot go. 

40 


















The Camel and the Pig 

A long, long time ago 
Mr. Camel went out for a walk. 
He met Mr. Pig. 

He had never seen a pig before. 
He thought 

Mr. Pig looked so funny. 

So Mr. Camel said, “Mr. Pig, 
the greatest thing in the world 
is to be tall. 

See how tall I am!” 

Mr. Pig looked at Mr. Camel, 
standing so tall. 

Then Mr. Pig said, 

“You are wrong, Mr. Camel. 


41 


J 








Something to Cut and Paste 


42 


The greatest thing in the world 
is to be short. 

See how short I am!” 

Mr. Camel looked down 
at Mr. Pig. 

He did not believe 
what Mr. Pig said. 

He thought and thought. 

At last Mr. Camel said, 

“Mr. Pig, I will prove to you 
that the greatest thing in the world 
is to be tall. 

If I do not, 

I will give you my hump.” 

“All right,” said Mr. Pig. 

43 


“I will prove to you 
that the greatest thing in the world 
is to be short. 

If I do not, 

I will give you my snout.” 

“All right,” said Mr. Camel. 

So Mr. Pig and Mr. Camel 
walked off together. 

They walked on and on 
until they came to a garden. 

It had a low wall all around it. 

Mr. Camel looked over the wall. 

He saw the nice things 
in the garden. 

Then he put his head 
over the wall. 


44 


He ate and ate. 

He ate all the green things 
he wanted. 

Mr. Pig could not even see 
the nice garden. 

Mr. Camel said, 

“The best thing in the world 
is to be tall.” 

Mr. Pig did not say a word. 

So they walked on together. 

They walked and walked. 

At last they came to another garden. 

It had a high wall around it. 

There was a pretty gate 
in the wall. 

Mr. Pig saw the gate. 


45 



♦ 

He squeezed under it. 

He was in the garden. 

He ate and ate. 

He ate all the green things 
he wanted. 

46 







































Then he came out again. 

Mr. Pig said, 

“The best thing in the world 
is to be short.” 

Mr. Camel did not say a word. 
He thought and thought. 

At last Mr. Camel said, 

“It is good to be tall. 

It is good to be short. 

I will keep my hump. 

You may keep your snout.” 

Mr. Camel was glad 
to keep his hump. 

Mr. Pig was glad 
to keep his snout. 

So they went home happy. 

47 



Mary Had a Pretty Bird 


Mary had a pretty bird, 

With feathers bright and yellow, 
Slender legs—upon my word, 

He was a pretty fellow! 

The sweetest notes he always sang, 
Which much delighted Mary, 
And near the cage she’d ever sit, 
To hear her own canary. 

48 















Little White Lily 


Little White Lily 
Smells very sweet; 

On her head sunshine, 
Rain at her feet. 

Thanks to the sunshine, 
Thanks to the rain, 
Little White Lily 
Is happy again. 


49 


—George Macdonald 






I Saw a Ship A-Sailing 


I saw a ship a-sailing, 

A-sailing on the sea; 

And oh, it was all laden 
With pretty things for thee! 

There were candies in the cabin, 
And apples in the hold; 

The sails were made of silk, 

And the masts were made 
of gold. 

The four-and-twenty sailors 
That stood between the decks 
Were four-and-twenty white mice, 
With chains about their necks. 


50 





t: 


r. 


The captain was a duck, 

With a jacket on his back; 

When the ship began to sail, 

The captain said, “Quack, quack!” 

51 

























The Little Red Hen 


Once upon a time 
there was a little red hen. 

She lived in a little house. 

Sly Fox lived 
in a den near by. 

Sly Fox wanted to catch 
little Red Hen. 

He thought and thought how he 
could do it. 

He said, 

“I will catch little Red Hen.” 

He went to his mother and said, 
“I am going to catch little Red Hen. 
Put the kettle on. 

We will boil her for dinner.” 


52 


“All right /’ said his mother. 

So Sly Fox took his big bag 
and went over the hill. 

Little Red Hen was very wise. 

When she went to market, 
she would lock her door 
and put the key in her pocket. 

When she went in the house 
she would lock her door 
behind her. 

One day little Red Hen 
went out in the yard 
to pick up sticks. 

Sly Fox was coming over the hill. 

He saw little Red Hen 
go into the yard. 


53 







So he lay very still. 

Then he went 

into little Red Hen’s house. 

He hid behind the door. 

Soon little Red Hen 
came into the house. 

She locked the door 
behind her. 

She put the big key in her pocket. 
Then she saw Sly Fox. 

How frightened little Red Hen was! 
She was so frightened 
she dropped her sticks. 

She flew to a high beam. 

She looked down at Sly Fox. 

She said, “Go home, Sly Fox! 

55 



You can’t catch me.” 

Sly Fox said, 

0$ 

“Yes, I will catch you. 

I will catch you, little Red Hen. 
See if I don’t.” 

Now, what do you think 
Sly Fox did? 


56 

















He stood 

in the middle of the floor 
right under little Red Hen. 

Then he ran around 
to catch his tail. 

He ran round and round. 
Little Red Hen watched him. 

He ran faster and faster. 

Soon little Red Hen got dizzy, 
watching Sly Fox. 

She could hardly hold on 
to the beam. 

At last she fell to the floor. 

Sly Fox picked her up quickly. 
He put her into his big bag. 
And he went home. 


57 


He had a long way to go. 

He was very tired. 

He sat down to rest. 

He went to sleep. 

How frightened little Red Hen was! 

She thought and thought. 

Then she took her scissors 
out of her pocket. 

They went snip snap, snip snap. 

Little Red Hen cut a big hole 
in the bag and jumped out. 

She took a big stone 
and put it in the bag. 

She took her needle 
out of her pocket. 

She sewed up the big hole. 

58 


Then she ran home 
as fast as she could run. 

She ran into the house. 

She locked the door 
with the big key. 

Sly Fox awoke. 

He walked on and on. 

His big bag was very heavy. 

































At last he reached home. 

He said, 

“Mother, is the kettle boiling?” 
“Yes,” said the mother. 

Then Sly Fox held the big bag 
over the kettle of boiling water. 

The big stone fell into the kettle 
Splash, splash! 

The hot water went 
all over Sly Fox. 

The hot water went 
all over Mother Fox. 

And they were dead. 

Little Red Hen was happy 
in her little house 
on the hill. 


60 



The Bear and the Fox 

One cold morning 
Mr. Bear went out for a walk. 

He walked and walked 
until he met Mr. Fox. 

Mr. Bear said, 

“Good morning, Mr. Fox. 

Where did you get those fine fish?” 


61 






Mr. Fox said, 

“I caught them in the pond. 

Come, I will show you 
how to catch some.” 

So Mr. Bear and Mr. Fox walked 
over to the pond. 

It was very cold. 

The pond was frozen over 
with ice. 

They walked out 
on the ice. 

Mr. Fox said, 

“You are big and strong. 

First you must make a hole 
in the ice. 

Then put your tail down deep 
into the water. 


62 


Keep it there 
a long, long time. 

When you pull it up, 
you will have as many fish 
as I have.” 

“Thank you, Mr. Fox,” 
said Mr. Bear. 

Then Mr. Fox ran home. 

Mr. Bear made a hole 
in the ice. 

He sat down on the ice. 

He put his tail down deep 
into the water. 

He sat and sat. 

He sat there 
a long, long time. 

63 





Something to Cut and Paste 


64 


At last Mr. Bear said, 

“I believe I have some fish now. 
I will see. 

I will pull my tail 
out of the water.” 

So he tried 

to pull his tail out of the water. 
But it was frozen fast. 

He pulled and pulled. 

He pulled with all his might. 

At last his tail broke off. 

How sorry Mr. Bear was! 

He lost his tail. 

He did not have any fish. 
That is why 

Mr. Bear has a short tail. 


65 



Little Cock Sparrow 


A little cock sparrow 
Sat on a green tree; 

And he chirruped and chirruped, 
So merry was he! 

But a naughty boy came 
With bow and arrow, 
Determined to shoot 

Little cock sparrow. 

66 







“This little cock sparrow 
Shall make me a stew,” 
Said this naughty boy. 

“A little pie, too.” 

“Oh, no!” said the sparrow, 
“I won’t make a stew.” 
So he fluttered his wings 
And away he flew. 



Come Away 

Come, my children, come away, 

For the sun shines bright to-day; 


Little children, come with me, 

Birds and brooks and posies see; 
Get your hats and come away, 

For it is a pleasant day. 

68 










Bring the hoop, and bring the ball, 
Come with happy faces all; 

Let us make a merry ring; 

Talk and laugh, and dance and 
sing. 

Quickly, quickly, come away, 

For it is a pleasant day. 

Everything is laughing, singing, 

All the pretty flowers are springing; 
See the kitten full of fun, 

Sporting in the brilliant sun; 
Children too may sport and play, 
For it is a pleasant day. 

69 








The Farmer and the Stork 

Mr. Farmer was walking 
about his field. 

He said, 

“I will plow this field. 

I will sow some seed.” 

Some black crows were sitting 
in a tree. 

They saw Mr. Farmer sow the seed. 
They laughed and said, 

“Let us find it.” 

So they flew down into the field. 
They scratched and scratched. 
They found the seed. 

The next morning 
Mr. Farmer went to the field. 


70 


He saw what the crows had done. 
He said, 

“I will spread some nets. 

I will catch those crows.” 

So he spread some nets all about. 
Then he went home. 

The crows came again. 

A stork came with them. 

They flew about. 

They were caught in the nets. 
The stork was caught too. 

He tried to get away. 

He tried again and again. 

But he could not get away. 

He pulled and pulled. 

He broke his leg. 

71 




Something to Cut and Paste 


72 


How sorry he was 
that he had come with the crows! 

He was frightened too. 

Mr. Farmer came out to the field 
and found them. 

He saw the stork. 

“Ha, ha!” he said. 

“You have been taking my seed. 

I have you fast now.” 

“Oh, Mr. Farmer,” 
cried the stork, 

“let me go! 

See, my leg is broken. 

I am a stork. 

I am a good bird. 

I do not look like a crow.” 


73 


Mr. Farmer looked at the stork. 
He shook his head. 

Mr. Farmer said, 

“I have you fast. 

You may be a good bird. 

But you were flying with the crows. 
Now you must die with them. 
‘Birds of a feather flock together.’ ” 










The Unhappy Pine Tree 

Once upon a time 
a little Pine Tree grew 
in a big forest. 

Its leaves were long, green needles. 

It did not like its needles. 

It was not happy. 

One day little Pine Tree said, 

“I wish I had leaves of gold,” 

It said it over and over. 

The Fairy of the Trees 
heard little Pine Tree. 

The next morning 
when little Pine Tree awoke, 
it was covered with leaves of gold. 

How happy it was! 

75 


Little Pine Tree said, 

“How beautiful I am! 

My leaves shine in the sun. 

I am the most beautiful tree 
in the forest.” 

One day a man came 
into the forest. 

He had a big bag on his arm. 
He saw the tree 
with the leaves of gold. 

He said, 

“I will pick these gold leaves. 

I will put them 
into my big bag. 

Then I will be rich.” 

The man picked all the gold leaves. 




Little Pine Tree was bare. 

Little Pine Tree was sad. 

Then it said, 

“I wish I had leaves of glass. 

The man would not take them.” 
It said it over and over. 

The Fairy of the Trees 
heard little Pine Tree. 

The next morning 
when little Pine Tree awoke, 
it was covered with leaves of glass. 
How they sparkled in the sun! 
They looked like diamonds! 

Soon the wind began to blow. 
The rain fell fast. 

It shook little Pine Tree very hard. 

78 


The glass leaves broke and fell 
to the ground. 

Little Pine Tree was bare. 

Little Pine Tree was sad. 

Then it said, 

“I want to be like other trees. 

I wish I had big green leaves.” 

It said it over and over. 

The Fairy of the Trees 
heard little Pine Tree. 

The next morning 
when little Pine Tree awoke, 
it was covered 
with big green leaves. 

A mother goat and her kids 
came along. 


79 



80 

























They ate all the green leaves 
on the tree. 

Little Pine Tree was bare. 

Little Pine Tree was sad. 

Then it said, “I wish I had 
my own long, green needles.” 

The Fairy of the Trees 
heard little Pine Tree. 

The next morning 
when little Pine Tree awoke, 
it was covered 
with long, green needles. 

How happy it was! 

Little Pine Tree said, 

“Long, green needles are best 

for pine trees, after all.” 

81 


The Bye-Low Song 


Say, birdies, 

when your bed-time comes 
And underneath your mother’s wing 
You’re tucked away 
so carefully, 

Does Mamma-Birdie to you sing 
The Bye-Low Song? 

Say, little lamb, 
with curly hair, 

That in the field is gamboling 
The whole day through, 
when bed-time comes, 

Does Mamma-Sheep then to you sing 
The Bye-Low Song? 



I know that when my bed-time 
comes, 

And I am tired of everything, 

I cannot go to sleep unless 
I hear my Mamma softly sing 
The Bye-Low Song. 

83 









The Whale and the Elephant 

One day Brother Rabbit 
was hopping along on the sand. 

He saw Mr. Whale. 

He saw Mr. Elephant. 

They were talking together. 

So Brother Rabbit sat very still. 

He wanted to hear 
what they were talking about. 

He listened and listened. 

Mr. Elephant said, 

“Mr. Whale you are the biggest 
thing in the sea. 

I am the biggest thing 
on the land! 


84 


If we go together, 
we can rule all the animals 
in the world.” 

Mr. Whale said, “All right. 

That suits me. 

We will do it.” 

Brother Rabbit 
thought and thought. 

He flopped his long ears. 

He shook his head. 

At last he said, 

“They won’t rule me. 

I will play a trick on them.” 

So Brother Rabbit ran away. 

He got a great big rope. 

He took his big drum. 


85 


He hid it in the bushes. 

Then he hopped along on the sand 
until he met Mr. Whale. 

Brother Rabbit said, 

“Please, Mr. Whale, 
will you help me? 

My best cow is fast in the mud. 
I can’t pull her out. 

You are so big and strong. 

I know you could pull her out.” 

This pleased Mr. Whale. 

He said, 

“Yes, I will help you.” 

Then Brother Rabbit said, 

“I will tie 

this end of the rope to you. 

86 


I will tie 

the other end to my cow. 

When I am ready 
I will beat my big drum.” 

“All right,” said Mr. Whale. 

So Brother Rabbit tied the rope 
to Mr. Whale. 

Then he hopped along on the sand 
until he met Mr. Elephant. 

Brother Rabbit said, 

“Please, Mr. Elephant, 
will you help me? 

My best cow is fast in the mud. 
I can’t pull her out. 

You are so big and strong. 

I know you can pull her out.” 

87 


This pleased Mr. Elephant. 

He said, “Yes, I will help you.” 
Then Brother Rabbit said, 

“I will tie 

this end of the rope to you. 

I will tie 

the other end to my cow. 

When I am ready, 

I will beat my big drum.” 

“All right,” said Mr. Elephant. 

So Brother Rabbit 
tied the end of the rope 
around Mr. Elephant’s trunk. 

Then he ran away into the bushes. 
He began to beat his big drum. 

Mr. Whale began to pull. 

88 















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Mr. Elephant began to pull. 
They both pulled. 

Mr. Whale pulled harder. 


Mr. Elephant pulled harder. 


89 



































































Mr. Whale said, 

“My, this cow is heavy.” 

So he put his tail 
down deep into the water. 

Mr. Elephant said, 

“My, this cow is heavy.” 

So he put his feet 
deep into the sand. 

He pulled very hard. 

And as he pulled he wrapped 
the rope around his trunk. 

He wrapped it round and round. 

Mr. Whale began to slide 
toward the land. 

So he dived head first 
into the sea. 


90 


This pulled Mr. Elephant 
clear off his feet. 

It pulled him down to the sea. 
He was very, very angry. 

He pulled with all his might. 
He pulled Mr. Whale 
clear out of the water. 

Mr. Whale said, 

“Who is pulling me?” 

Mr. Elephant said, 

“Who is pulling me?” 

Then they saw the rope. 

Mr. Elephant said, 

“I will show you how to play cow.” 
Mr. Whale said, 

“I will show you how to fool me.” 

91 


Something to Cut and Paste 


92 



They began to pull again. 

The rope broke. 

Mr. Whale fell over into the sea. 
Mr. Elephant fell over 
into the bushes. 

Mr. Elephant shook his head. 
Mr. WTiale shook his head. 

Now they were so ashamed. 

They would not speak 
to each other. 

So that broke up the bargain 
between them. 

Mr. Elephant went home. 

Mr. Whale went home. 

Brother Rabbit sat in the bushes. 
He laughed 

and laughed and laughed. 

93 


Evergreen Tree# 


It was very cold. 

The wind blew hard. 

The little birds were flying around. 
They wanted to fly 
to the warm South. 

One little bird could not go. 

It had a broken wing. 

It could not fly so far. 

It must stay 

in the cold North all winter. 

The little bird with the broken 
wing was very sad. 

It did not like to stay alone 
in the cold. 


94 


But the little bird said, 

“I wish some tree 
could keep its leaves 
all winter. 

Then I could keep warm. 

I will try and find one.” 

At last the other birds flew away 
to the South. 

The little bird with the broken 
wing was all alone. 

So he hopped along 
until he came to a birch tree. 

The sad little bird said, 

“I have a broken wing. 

Please may I live 
in your branches till spring?” 

95 


“No,” said the birch tree 
“I must take care 
of my leaf buds.” 

So the poor little bird went 
away. 

He was sad. 

He said, 

“Some tree will help me.” 

He hopped along 
until he came to an oak tree. 

He said, 

“I have a broken wing. 

Please may I live 
in your branches till spring?” 
“No,” said the oak tree. 

“I must rest.” 


96 


So the little bird went away. 
Then he hopped along 
until he came to a willow tree. 

He said, 

“I have a broken wing. 

Please may I live 
in your branches till spring?” 

The willow tree said, 

“No, I must rest. 

See, my leaves are turning yellow.” 

The little bird was very sad. 

“I will try one more tree,” 
he said. 

As he hopped along, 
he came to a spruce tree. 

97 


The spruce tree said, 

“Where are you going, little bird?” 

The little bird said, 

“I have a broken wing. 

Please may I live 
in your branches till spring?” 

“Yes,” said the spruce tree. 

“You may stay all winter.” 

“Oh, thank you!” 
said the little bird. 

A pine tree stood 
near the spruce tree. 

“I will help keep the wind 
off the little bird,” 
said the pine tree. 

“I will give him some berries,” 
said the juniper tree. 

98 



So the little bird 
was happy again. 

It sang and sang. 

It sang its sweetest song. 

The Frost King and 
the North Wind came along. 

The North Wind blew the leaves 
from the birch tree. 


99 








It blew the leaves 
from the oak tree. 

It blew the leaves 
from the willow tree. 

The Frost King said, 

“Be good to the spruce tree. 

Be good to the pine tree. 

Be good to the juniper tree. 

They helped the little bird 
with the broken wing.” 




So they kept their leaves 
all winter. 

They have kept 
their leaves all winter 
ever since. 



101 



Babes in the Wood 

My dear, do you know 

How, a long time ago, 

Two poor little children, 

Whose names I don’t know, 

Were stolen away 

On a fine summer’s day, 

And left in a wood, 

As I’ve heard people say? 

102 









And when it was night, 

So sad was their plight! 

The sun it went down, 

And the moon gave no light! 

They sobbed and they sighed, 
And they bitterly cried, 

And the poor little things, 

They lay down and died. 

And when they were dead, 

The robins so red 

Brought strawberry leaves 
And over them spread; 

And all the day long 

They sang them this song: 

“Poor babes in the wood! 

Poor babes in the wood! 

And don’t you remember 
The babes in the wood?” 


103 


Little Sunshine 


A little old woman 
and a little old man 
lived near a wood. 

They had a cow. 

They had a horse. 

They worked in the field all day. 
The wood was thick and dark. 
There were no paths into it. 

One day 

a little girl came to live 
with the little old woman 
and the little old man. 

She was very happy. 

She always smiled. 

Everybody loved her. 

They called her Little Sunshine. 


104 



Her mother taught her to sew. 

She taught her to bake. 

She taught her to spin. 

Sometimes some one would help her. 
Her mother did not like this. 

She wanted her little girl 
to do her work all alone. 


105 









One day 

she gave Little Sunshine 
a big pile of flax to spin. 

Her mother said, 

“Take this to your room. 

Do not come out 
until it is done. 

Do not let any one help you.” 

Little Sunshine went to her room. 
She shut her door fast. 

She sat down to spin. 

The big wheel went 
round and round. 

Soon the work was done. 

Little Sunshine heard a noise. 

It sounded like “Squeak, squeak.” 
106 


Little Sunshine looked up. 

She saw a little gray mouse. 

It ran to her. 

Little Sunshine said, 

“What do you want, little mouse?” 

Little Gray Mouse said, 

“I want something to eat.” 

Little Sunshine looked around. 
She found a bit of fat. 

She asked, “Will this do?” 
“Yes,” said Little Gray Mouse. 
He began to eat the fat. 

They heard a loud rap 
at the door. 

A big voice said, 

“Let me in! Let me in!” 


107 


Little Sunshine was frightened. 

But she went to the door 
and opened it. 

There stood a big brown bear. 

He said, “I have come to play 
blindman’s buff with you.” 

Little Sunshine was afraid. 

Little Gray Mouse ran to her. 

He said, “Do not be afraid. 

I will help you.” 

Little Sunshine took her apron. 

She tied it over the bear’s eyes. 

Little Gray Mouse 
blew out the fire. 

He hung a string of bells 
around his neck. 


108 


Little Sunshine hid 
in the corner. 

Little Gray Mouse ran 
round the room. 

He ran round and round. 

He ran under the chair. 

He ran over the table. 

He ran 

over the spinning wheel. 

Big Bear could not catch him. 

Big Bear said, 

“I will catch you.” 

Little Gray Mouse 
shook his bells harder. 

He ran faster. 

Big Bear was tired and dizzy. 

109 


He said, “Enough, Little Sunshine. 
You can play better than I.” 

Big Bear pulled the apron 
off his eyes. 

He said, “Little Sunshine, 
will you pull me out of my skin?” 

“I will try,” said Little Sunshine. 
She pulled and pulled. 

Off came the bear’s skin. 

There stood a lovely Prince. 

He said, 

“You are to go home with me. 

You are to live in my palace. 

You will be Princess Sunshine.” 


Paths opened into the dark wood. 



The Prince took Princess Sunshine 
to his palace. 


Princess Sunshine was kind 
to the little mice. 

All the tabby cats in her kingdom 

wore bells about their necks. 

The little mice were happy too. 
in 






Sleep, baby, sleep! 

Thy father watches his sheep; 

Thy mother is shaking 
the dreamland tree, 

And down comes a little dream 
on thee. 

Sleep, baby, sleep! 

Sleep, baby, sleep! 

The large stars are the sheep; 

The little stars are the lambs, 

I guess; 

And the gentle moon 
is the shepherdess. 

Sleep, baby, sleep! 




Topknot 

Some chickens lived 
in a barn yard. 

One hen had a big topknot. 
She did not look 
like the other hens. 

She was very proud. 

She walked by herself. 

113 












She said, 

“See my topknot! 

See my topknot! 

It is very pretty.” 

One day she said, 

“I am going away. 

I will not stay 
in the barn yard. 

I am going over the fence. 

I will walk by myself.” 

The Rooster heard her. 

He said, 

“Cock-a-doodle-doo! 
Cock-a-doodle-doo! 

Do not go away, Topknot. 
It is safe in the barn yard.” 


114 


All the hens said, 

“Cluck, cluck, cluck! 

Cluck, cluck, cluck! 

Do not go away, Topknot. 

You must stay here. 

It is safe in the barn yard.” 

But Topknot wanted to go away. 
She did not like the barn yard. 
She did not like the other hens. 
She flew over the fence. 

She walked down the road. 

She was all alone. 

She was very proud. 

Just then a Hawk flew by. 

He saw Topknot. 

She was all alone. 


115 






He said, 

“I am hungry. 

I want my dinner. 

Topknot will make a good dinner. 
I will get her. 

I will get her now.” 

He flew to the ground. 

He caught Topknot. 

She began to cry. 

She cried very loud. 

She called, 

“Cluck, cluck! Help, help! 

Cluck, cluck! Help, help!” 

The Rooster heard her. 

He saw the Hawk, too. 

He called as loud as he could. 


117 


He called, 

“Cock-a-doodle-doo! 
Cock-a-doodle-doo! 

Come, come and help! 

Come, come and help! 

Come and help Topknot!” 

The people came running. 

They saw the big Hawk. 

They called and called. 

They wanted to help Topknot. 
How frightened the Hawk was! 
He let Topknot go. 

He flew away. 

He flew far, far away. 

Topknot ran back 
to the barn yard. 

How happy she was! 

It was safe in the barn yard. 

118 



She looked around. 

She shook her feathers. 

She shook her head. 

She was covered with dirt. 
How angry she was! 

She said, 

“Where is my topknot? 

Oh, where is my topknot?” 

119 













It was gone. 

She began to cry, 

“Cluck, cluck, cluck! 

See, see how I look! 

See, see how I look!” 

The Rooster came up to her. 

He said, 

‘ ‘Cock-a-doodle-doo! 
Cock-a-doodle-doo! 

I told you not to go away. 

I told you it was safe 
in the barn yard.” 

Now Topknot is glad 
to stay in the barn yard. 

She is not so proud. 

She likes the other hens, too. 

Swedish Folk Tale 

120 



Wee Robin 

Wee Robin was singing. 

He was singing his morning song. 
Gray Pussy came by. 

Gray Pussy said, 

“Good morning, Wee Robin. 

Where are you going to-day?” 

121 









Wee Robin said, 

“I am going to the king. 

I will sing a song to him. 

I will sing, ‘Cheer up, cheer up!’” 

Gray Pussy said, 

“Come here, Wee Robin. 

I will Show you a white ring 
around my neck. 

It is very pretty.” 

Wee Robin said, 

“No, no! No, no! Gray Pussy! 
You worry Wee Mousie. 

You shall not worry me. 
Good-by.” 

And he flew away. 

He flew and flew. 


122 


Wee Robin flew to a high wall. 
He sang and sang. 

He sang his sweetest song. 

Sly Fox came by. 

Sly Fox said, 

“Good morning, Wee Robin. 
Where are you going to-day?” 

Wee Robin said, 

“I am going to the king. 

I will sing a song to him. 

I will sing, “Cheer up, cheer up!” 

Sly Fox said, 

“Come here, Wee Robin. 

I will show you a white spot 
on the end of my tail.” 

123 



124 



Wee Robin said, 

“No, no! No, no! Sly Fox! 

You worry Wee Lamb. 

You shall not worry me. 
Good-by.” 

And he flew away. 

Wee Robin flew to a big tree. 
He sang and sang. 

He sang his sweetest song. 
Wee Hunter came by. 

Wee Hunter said, 

“Good morning, Wee Robin. 
Where are you going to-day?” 

Wee Robin said, 

“I am going to the king. 

125 


I will sing a song to him. 

I will sing, ‘Cheer up! Cheer up!’” 

Wee Hunter said, 

“Come here, Wee Robin. 

I will give you some crumbs 
for your dinner.” 

Wee Robin said, 

“No, no! No, no! Wee Hunter! 
You worry Wee Birdie. 

You shall not worry me. 
Good-by.” 

And he flew away. 

Wee Robin flew and flew. 

He flew to the king. 

He sang and sang. 


126 


He sang his sweetest song. 

The King heard Wee Robin. 

The Queen heard him, too. 

How happy they were! 

The Queen said, 

“There is Wee Robin. 

He is singing his sweetest song. 
What shall we give him?” 

The Queen thought and thought. 
Then she said, 

“We will give him Wee Wren 
for his wife.” 

And they did. 

So Wee Robin and Wee Wren 
flew away home. 

Scottish Folk Tale 


127 



Little Tee Wee 
Little Tee Wee, 

He went to sea 
In an open boat; 

And while afloat 
The little boat bended, 

And my story's ended. 

128 



































































































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